<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML xmlns:o = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"><HEAD>
<META content="text/html; charset=UTF-8" http-equiv=Content-Type>
<META name=GENERATOR content="MSHTML 8.00.6001.18876"></HEAD>
<BODY style="FONT-FAMILY: Book Antiqua; COLOR: #000000; FONT-SIZE: 14pt" id=role_body bottomMargin=7 leftMargin=7 rightMargin=7 topMargin=7><FONT id=role_document color=#000000 size=4 face="Book Antiqua">
<DIV><FONT size=4>Dear friends and colleagues,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Is there an emerging genre of <FONT size=4>films about North
Korea</FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>which are innovative, experimental, or off the
wall?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Three examples come to mind. None of which,</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>alas, have I managed to actually see in full as
yet:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>1. <EM><STRONG>The Red Chapel</STRONG></EM>, from Denmark: <A href="http://theredchapel.com/"><FONT size=3>http://theredchapel.com/</FONT></A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>This - or some of it - was shown in the UK on BBC
TV </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>recently, <FONT size=4>when it was called <EM>Kim
Jong-il's Comedy Club .</EM></FONT></DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Had I been paying attention, </FONT><FONT size=4>Philip
Gowman's ever excellent </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>London Korean Links has several posts </FONT><FONT size=4>about this, most recently: <A href="http://londonkoreanlinks.net/2010/03/11/kim-jong-ils-comedy-club-is-back-bigger-better-and-under-a-new-name/">http://londonkoreanlinks.net/2010/03/11/kim-jong-ils-comedy-club-is-back-bigger-better-and-under-a-new-name/</A></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>For those in London, this film is still doing the
rounds.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Perhaps it's being shown in other countries too?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>2. Another case is <EM>Yodok Story</EM>, the DPRK gulag
musical </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>- itself a startling concept: <EM>Springtime for Hitler
</EM>comes to mind -</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>which is now also a movie. There are clips on
YouTube:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Zg_c_yjSI"><FONT size=3>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3Zg_c_yjSI</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxSTNECCVr8&feature=related"><FONT size=3>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxSTNECCVr8&feature=related</FONT></A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>3. And </FONT><FONT size=4><FONT size=4>I just ran across
the link below. Wholly new to me.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>Has anyone seen this film? Is it any good?</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Best wishes</DIV>
<DIV>Aidan</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><B style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB><FONT size=3>Aidan
Foster-Carter<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></B></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB>Honorary Senior Research
Fellow in Sociology & Modern Korea, Leeds University, UK</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB> </SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB>E</SPAN></EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black; mso-bidi-font-style: italic" lang=EN-GB>: <A title=mailto:afostercarter@aol.com href="mailto:afostercarter@aol.com">afostercarter@aol.com</A><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><A title=mailto:afostercarter@yahoo.com href="mailto:afostercarter@yahoo.com">afostercarter@yahoo.com</A><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria">W</SPAN></EM>: <A title=http://www.aidanfc.net/ href="http://www.aidanfc.net/">www.aidanfc.net</A><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB><FONT size=3>Flat 1, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>40 Magdalen Road, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Exeter, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Devon, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>EX2 4TE, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>England, <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>UK<o:p></o:p></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB>T:</SPAN></EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB> (+44, no 0)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>07970 741307 (mobile);<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic">01392 257753 (home)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><FONT size=3><I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB>Skype</SPAN></I><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria; COLOR: black" lang=EN-GB>: <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Aidan.Foster.Carter <EM><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Cambria">Twitter:</SPAN></EM> <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>fcaidan<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 11pt" lang=EN-GB><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4>____________</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><A href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233599/">http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1233599/</A></DIV>
<DIV><FONT size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN style="WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: medium 'Times New Roman'; WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px" class=Apple-style-span><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 13px" class=Apple-style-span>
<DIV style="POSITION: static; MARGIN: 8px 8px 8px 0px" id=tn15title>
<H1 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 31px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; FONT-SIZE: 32px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold"><SMALL style="LINE-HEIGHT: 19px; FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">Plot Summary
for<BR></SMALL><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); TEXT-DECORATION: none" class=main href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/">The Juche Idea</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 19px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">(<A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/year/2008/">2008</A>)<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px; PADDING-LEFT: 0.25em; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" class=pro-link><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="http://pro.imdb.com/rg/plotsummary-title/tconst-pro-header-link/title/tt1233599/">More
at<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><STRONG>IMDbPro</STRONG></A> »</SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: block; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(153,153,153); FONT-SIZE: 17px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; PADDING-TOP: 3px" class=title-extra></SPAN></SPAN></H1></DIV>
<DIV id=tn15content>
<P style="MARGIN: 0.75em 0px" class=plotpar>Ready for a Marxist-Leninist-musical
documentary? The Busby Berkeley of propaganda, Jim Finn, follows a South Korean
video artist in North Korea who hopes to revitalize Juche cinema, somewhat
inspired by a true story of a South Korean filmmaker kidnapped in the 70s to
make the North Korean film industry better. In the mod 60s, film-fanatic Kim
Jong Il adapted his father's Juche (pronounced choo-CHAY) philosophy to
propaganda, film and art. Translated as self-reliance, Juche is a hybrid of
Confucian and authoritarian Stalinist pseudo-socialism. Finn is the undisputed
champion of propaganda as pure art, and this is his best yet. He uses the tools
of traditional documentary, formal avant-garde, language lesson videos, and some
sci-fi recreations to dig down to the souls of governments, leaders and media
manipulation. No kitsch mockumentary, just careful analysis of the love of
cinema that is as surreally funny as it is truth. Isn't art revolutionary? Is
there humanism within all those faces?<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><I>Written by<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/search/writers?realm=title&field=plot&q=Mike%20Plante">Mike
Plante</A></I></P></DIV></SPAN></SPAN><BR class=Apple-interchange-newline><SPAN style="WIDOWS: 2; TEXT-TRANSFORM: none; TEXT-INDENT: 0px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: separate; FONT: medium 'Times New Roman'; WHITE-SPACE: normal; ORPHANS: 2; LETTER-SPACING: normal; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); WORD-SPACING: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px" class=Apple-style-span><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 13px" class=Apple-style-span>
<DIV style="POSITION: static; MARGIN: 8px 8px 8px 0px" id=tn15title>
<H1 style="LINE-HEIGHT: 31px; MARGIN: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; FONT-SIZE: 32px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">The
Juche Idea<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 20px; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 19px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal">(<A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/year/2008/">2008</A>)<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 16px; PADDING-LEFT: 0.25em; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); FONT-SIZE: 15px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal" class=pro-link><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="http://pro.imdb.com/rg/maindetails-title/tconst-pro-header-link/title/tt1233599/">More
at<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><STRONG>IMDbPro</STRONG></A> »</SPAN><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 14px; FONT-STYLE: normal; DISPLAY: block; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(153,153,153); FONT-SIZE: 17px; FONT-WEIGHT: normal; PADDING-TOP: 3px" class=title-extra></SPAN></SPAN></H1></DIV>
<DIV id=tn15content>
<HR style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; HEIGHT: 1px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: none; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px">
<DIV style="Z-INDEX: 100; TEXT-ALIGN: center; FLOAT: right; COLOR: rgb(183,183,183); MARGIN-LEFT: 9px" id=tn15adrhs>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" id=top_rhs_wrapper></DIV>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 4px; COLOR: rgb(183,183,183); FONT-SIZE: 10px" id=top_rhs_after class="after_ad ">advertisement</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 4px; COLOR: rgb(183,183,183); FONT-SIZE: 10px" id=top_center_after class=after_ad>
<DIV></DIV></DIV>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 0pt 6px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(36,55,87); FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Overview</H3>
<DIV style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 17px" id=tn15rating class="one guest">
<DIV class=general>
<DIV style="POSITION: relative; OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class="info stars">
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">User
Rating:</H5>
<DIV class=starbar>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SFfaca2a5028ed91753ebf40667ffe4551/tn15/stars.png); POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 200px; BACKGROUND-POSITION: 0px 0px; HEIGHT: 20px; MARGIN-LEFT: 130px; TOP: -1px; LEFT: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class=outer>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SFfaca2a5028ed91753ebf40667ffe4551/tn15/stars.png); POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 150px; BACKGROUND-POSITION: 0px -20px; HEIGHT: 20px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" id=general-voting-stars class=inner></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 341px" class=starbar-meta><B>7.5/10</B><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN> <A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class=tn15more href="aoldb://mail/write/ratings">18
votes</A> »</DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">MOVIEmeter:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/help/show_leaf?prowhatisstarmeter"><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" border=0 alt=? src="http://i.media-imdb.com/images//help13x10.gif" width=13 height=10></A></H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><B>Down 8%</B><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>in popularity this week. See<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/r/movie-con/rg/title-tease/meter-why/title/tt1233599/graph-data">why</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>on<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/r/movie-con/rg/title-tease/meter-prolink/">IMDbPro</A>.</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" id=director-info class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Director:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(128,0,128)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/directorlist/position-1/images/b.gif?link=name/nm2171308/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm2171308/">Jim Finn</A><BR></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 35px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Writers:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(128,0,128)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/writerlist/position-1/images/b.gif?link=name/nm2171308/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm2171308/">Jim Finn</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>(screenplay)<BR><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/writerlist/position-2/images/b.gif?link=name/nm0453535/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm0453535/">Jong-il Kim</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>(text)<BR></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Genre:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/Sections/Genres/Documentary/">Documentary</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>|<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/Sections/Genres/Comedy/">Comedy</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/keywords/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/keywords';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/keywords">See more</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 52px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Plot:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content>Ready for a
Marxist-Leninist-musical documentary? The Busby Berkeley of propaganda, Jim
Finn, follows...<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(128,0,128); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/plotsummary/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/plotsummary';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/plotsummary">See more</A> » |<A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" href="aoldb://mail/write/synopsis">Add
synopsis</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Plot
Keywords:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content>
<DIV style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF2bd41ee2fcc7626257730ba0093a7b64/keyword-spoilers.png); DISPLAY: inline" id=tn15plotkeywords class=keyword-spoiler><SPAN style="VISIBILITY: hidden"><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/keyword/kim-jong-il/"></A><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/keyword/north-korea/"></A><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/keyword/communism/"></A></SPAN></DIV></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Awards:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content>1 win<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/awards/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/awards';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/awards">See more</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">User
Reviews:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content>Weird and wonderful
insights into a wonderful ideology that isn't<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" href="aoldb://mail/write/template.htm#comment">See more
(1 total)</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<HR style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; HEIGHT: 1px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: none; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px">
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 201px" class=info>
<DIV style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6px" class=headerinline>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 0pt 6px; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(36,55,87); FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cast</H3> <SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><SMALL style="POSITION: relative; BOTTOM: 1px">(Credited cast)</SMALL></DIV>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px; WIDTH: 510px" class="info-content block">
<TABLE style="LINE-HEIGHT: 17px; WIDTH: 510px; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse; FONT-SIZE: 13px" class=cast>
<TBODY>
<TR style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF1933a673dc866f39341d626891d33336/wheel/fafafa.png); BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class=odd>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; WIDTH: 24px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=hs><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/resumehead/images/b.gif?link=http://resume.imdb.com/';" href="http://resume.imdb.com/"><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" border=0 src="http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF9113d6f5b7cb1533c35313ccd181a6b1/tn15/no_photo.png" width=25 height=31></A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=nm><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/castlist/position-1/images/b.gif?link=/name/nm3015788/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm3015788/">Sung Kim</A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=ddd>...</TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=char>North Korean actor</TD></TR>
<TR style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SFa4f858217e0c6c99eaad657fe14ce276/wheel/f0f1f8.png); BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class=even>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; WIDTH: 24px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=hs><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/resumehead/images/b.gif?link=http://resume.imdb.com/';" href="http://resume.imdb.com/"><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" border=0 src="http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF9113d6f5b7cb1533c35313ccd181a6b1/tn15/no_photo.png" width=25 height=31></A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=nm><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/castlist/position-2/images/b.gif?link=/name/nm3015841/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm3015841/">Daniela Kostova</A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=ddd>...</TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=char>Bulgarian filmmaker</TD></TR>
<TR style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF1933a673dc866f39341d626891d33336/wheel/fafafa.png); BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class=odd>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; WIDTH: 24px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=hs><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/resumehead/images/b.gif?link=http://resume.imdb.com/';" href="http://resume.imdb.com/"><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" border=0 src="http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF9113d6f5b7cb1533c35313ccd181a6b1/tn15/no_photo.png" width=25 height=31></A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=nm><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/castlist/position-3/images/b.gif?link=/name/nm3015438/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm3015438/">Jung Yoon Lee</A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=ddd>...</TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=char>Yoon Jung</TD></TR>
<TR style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SFa4f858217e0c6c99eaad657fe14ce276/wheel/f0f1f8.png); BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class=even>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 1px; WIDTH: 24px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=hs><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/resumehead/images/b.gif?link=http://resume.imdb.com/';" href="http://resume.imdb.com/"><IMG style="BORDER-BOTTOM-STYLE: none; BORDER-RIGHT-STYLE: none; BORDER-TOP-STYLE: none; BORDER-LEFT-STYLE: none" border=0 src="http://i.media-imdb.com/images/SF9113d6f5b7cb1533c35313ccd181a6b1/tn15/no_photo.png" width=25 height=31></A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=nm><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/castlist/position-4/images/b.gif?link=/name/nm2616514/';" href="aoldb://mail/name/nm2616514/">Oleg Mavromatti</A></TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=ddd>...</TD>
<TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; PADDING-LEFT: 0.5em; PADDING-RIGHT: 0.5em; FONT: 10pt Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 36px; COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted" class=char>Oleg</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class=tn15more href="aoldb://mail/write/fullcredits#cast">See
more</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<DIV>
<HR style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; HEIGHT: 1px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: none; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px">
<A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); TEXT-DECORATION: none" onmouseover="window.status='go to www.hdeverything.co.uk/panasonic';return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''" href="http://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/aclk?sa=l&ai=Box4MJ9apS-_FNYq4jQeT3NQS_66k2gHr89GbD5uT2d4HkNYnEAMYAyD96aoGKAM4AFClw6_V-P____8BYLuWu4PQCrIBDHd3dy5pbWRiLmNvbcgBAdoBJGh0dHA6Ly93d3cuaW1kYi5jb20vdGl0bGUvdHQxMjMzNTk5L4ACAakC2EYTo7souT7AAgHIAq3i-BKoAwHoA-4G6AMi6AOxA_UDAAQABPUDAAAAEA&num=3&sig=AGiWqtx847oReTd7B4nwEnwfU4BIC5cSTw&client=ca-amazon-imdb_js&adurl=http://www.hdeverything.co.uk/" target=_top><SPAN style="COLOR: green" class=description>.</SPAN></A><BR></DIV>
<HR style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; HEIGHT: 1px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: none; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 0pt 6px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(36,55,87); FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Additional
Details</H3>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Parents
Guide:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/write/parentalguide">Add content
advisory for parents</A></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Runtime:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content>USA:62
min</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Country:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/Sections/Countries/USA/">USA</A></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Language:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/Sections/Languages/Korean/">Korean</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN>|<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/Sections/Languages/English/">English</A></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Color:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/search/title?colors=color">Color</A></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Aspect
Ratio:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content>1.85 : 1<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/aspect/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/technical';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/technical">See more</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Sound
Mix:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/search/title?sound_mixes=stereo">Stereo</A></DIV></DIV>
<DIV style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 12px; HEIGHT: 18px" class=info>
<H5 style="OVERFLOW-X: hidden; OVERFLOW-Y: hidden; MARGIN: 0px; WIDTH: 10em; FLOAT: left; FONT-SIZE: 13px">Filming
Locations:</H5>
<DIV style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 1px 10.25em" class=info-content><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/search/title?locations=Buffalo,%20New%20York,%20USA">Buffalo,
New York, USA</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); MARGIN-LEFT: 0.2em; TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class="tn15more inline" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/locations/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/locations';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/locations">See more</A> »</DIV></DIV>
<HR style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; HEIGHT: 1px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: none; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px">
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 0pt 6px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(36,55,87); FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">FAQ</H3><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/faq-empty/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/faq';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/faq">This FAQ is empty. Add the first
question.</A>
<HR style="BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px; HEIGHT: 1px; MARGIN-LEFT: 0px; CLEAR: none; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,153) 1px dotted; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,153) 1px">
<DIV style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 6px" class=headerinline><A name=comment>
<H3 style="MARGIN: 0px 0pt 6px; DISPLAY: inline; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; LETTER-SPACING: -1px; COLOR: rgb(36,55,87); FONT-SIZE: 18px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold">User
Reviews</H3></A> <SPAN style="PADDING-LEFT: 0px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: 10%">(<A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/write/usercomments-enter">Review this title</A>)</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=comment>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 10px" class=small>0 out of 1 people found the following review useful.</DIV><B style="FONT-SIZE: 14px">Weird and wonderful insights into a wonderful ideology
that isn't</B>, 4 July 2008<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><BR>
<DIV style="FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; FONT-SIZE: 10px" class=small>Author:<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><A style="COLOR: rgb(0,51,153)" href="aoldb://mail/user/ur0064493/comments">Chris
Docker (eyeforfilm)</A><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><SMALL>from Scotland, United
Kingdom</SMALL></DIV>
<P style="MARGIN: 0.75em 0px; FONT-SIZE: 13px"></P>
<P style="MARGIN: 0.75em 0px; FONT-SIZE: 13px">"Creativity is an attribute of
social man who transforms the world and shapes his destiny purposefully and
consciously. By virtue of his creativity, man transforms nature and society to
be more useful and beneficial to him by changing the old and creating the new."
It doesn't sound too controversial. The artist can consciously or unconsciously
influence the world, for good or bad. It may be to uphold or challenge social
norms, such as marriage and family values. Or it may be more political, to give
moral support to the troops or propound a specific ideology. When combined with
a culture of censorship, whether legally-enforced or effected by market and
cultural hubris, the effect is greatly multiplied.<BR><BR>Extreme cases of
Marxist or Nazi propaganda are offensive to Western sensibilities, but the issue
is rarely discussed in depth unless forced upon us.<BR><BR>Take the repressive
regime of North Korea. The quotation at the beginning of this review is part of
the official ideology called Juche (pronounced choo-CHAY). Reading the
philosophy of Juche, one cannot but be impressed by its noble purpose. Its
infusion of moral goodness into the arts. It's wondrous leadership potential. So
how is North Korea seemingly so inescapably f*cked up? Jim Finn's awkwardly
placed film is unsettling by its approach as well as its subject matter. It
seems to be a documentary about a media studies student completing a residency
in North Korea. How did she get there? Her background is mixed. Having spent her
formative years in South Korea, and time in America before settling in Japan.
Her work on arts projects and video has enabled her to secure a place in a North
Korean establishment where she learns to make films in accordance with
Juche.<BR><BR>Her own political views are very mixed. The US is "always invading
or threatening to invade someone." She finds some good ideas, from a technical
point of view, in Juche Theory, but struggles to implement them to her tutor's
standards. She must try harder to make films that "speak to the workers" and not
to an "artistic elite." Her underlying objective is to learn about and then give
a true idea of Juche and its role in the development of cinematic
ideas.<BR><BR>The North Korean academics are equally interested in her work in
'capitalist' countries. What's it like, making a film there? Like building your
own boat on a bay, she says. People are very helpful and contribute timber and
advice. But when it's launched no-one notices cos they're all watching the
cruise ship spread its bilge. About Kim Jong Il (who is apparently a film
fanatic, not just a despot), she explains that, in the West, "of course, he's
stereotyped – with some basis in reality." But even as I was appreciating the
remarkable insight into a closed kingdom, I still had doubts. How did all this
filming get in – and then get out again? Who exactly was this student? It felt
as if I had missed an essential first five minutes.<BR><BR>But I hadn't. The
film is a re-creation, or serious mockumentary, with original footage produced
entirely within the USA. Added to the confusing mix are avant-garde techniques
and language lesson videos ('English as a Capitalist Language' and 'English as a
Socialist Language'). Does this reduce its value? Perhaps not. Clips of mass
celebration dances are from official North Korean sources. The quotations from
Juche, frequently appearing on the screen, are authentic. Travelogue it ain't.
Off-beat study of an off-beat cinematic closed circuit it certainly
is.<BR><BR>In the mid 60's, Kim Jong Il adapted his father's Juche philosophy to
propaganda, film and art. Translated as self-reliance, Juche is like a mixture
of Confucian and authoritarian Stalinist pseudo-socialism. Excellence in film
themes and stories is judged partly on how well they portray Juche, since this
is unquestioningly accepted as the most enlightened approach. For instance,
"conflicts should always be settled in accordance with the law of class
struggle." Or, "There are no negative people in socialist society." Its
high-minded (if rather arrogant) approach reminds me a little of the Hays Code
(censorship guidelines) that governed US film-making from 1934 to 1968. Except
that the moral code of Juche seems to be universally respected within North
Korea (And it does also look very much more philosophically coherent than the
rather patchwork Hays Code). Certain precepts seem almost to contain a
Judeo-Christian crossover: "A negative person must always be led to repent of
his mistake and take the right road." It would be easy to become enraptured of
Juche Idea, even if it is a bit restrictive. Examples of good poetry and good
cinema seem to suggest that it works. The sad reality is that, like communism,
it sounds great but is a disaster in practice. The concentration on 'message'
eventually makes for sameness in even the most colourful of
creations.<BR><BR>One of the most dramatic state clips is of 'Flesh Ring in Sea
of Blood.' (Sea of Blood is a North Korean expression for capitalist
aggression.) My overall feeling was that North Korea is not as unsophisticated
as we might think. That we tend to trivialise or stereotype it just as it
stereotypes us. The film seems to be a very worthwhile project that at least
scratches the surface. Yet it also gets a bit monotonous and its ambiguous
'documentary' status niggled me throughout. It is also an unusual and chic
example of how elegant ideology bears no resemblance to the reality upon which
it has inflicted itself.</P>
<DIV style="PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; PADDING-LEFT: 2px; PADDING-RIGHT: 2px; PADDING-TOP: 2px" id=ynd_1904556 class=yn>
<FORM style="MARGIN: 0px; DISPLAY: inline" method=get action=/register/>Was the
above review useful to you?<SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><INPUT style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/wheel/button-bg-secondary-skinnable.png); BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; POSITION: relative; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(232,222,188); PADDING-LEFT: 4px; PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; BACKGROUND-POSITION: 0% 0%; HEIGHT: 20px; COLOR: rgb(51,51,0); FONT-SIZE: 10px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; CURSOR: pointer; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class="click linkasbutton-secondary" value=Yes type=submit><SPAN class=Apple-converted-space> </SPAN><INPUT style="BACKGROUND-IMAGE: url(http://i.media-imdb.com/images/wheel/button-bg-secondary-skinnable.png); BORDER-BOTTOM: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; POSITION: relative; BORDER-LEFT: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; PADDING-BOTTOM: 8px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: rgb(232,222,188); PADDING-LEFT: 4px; PADDING-RIGHT: 4px; BACKGROUND-POSITION: 0% 0%; HEIGHT: 20px; COLOR: rgb(51,51,0); FONT-SIZE: 10px; VERTICAL-ALIGN: middle; BORDER-TOP: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; CURSOR: pointer; FONT-WEIGHT: bold; BORDER-RIGHT: rgb(153,153,102) 3px double; TEXT-DECORATION: none; PADDING-TOP: 0px; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial" class="click linkasbutton-secondary" value=No type=submit></FORM></DIV></DIV><A style="WHITE-SPACE: nowrap; COLOR: rgb(0,51,153); TEXT-DECORATION: underline" class=tn15more onclick="(new Image()).src='/rg/title-tease/comments-bottom/images/b.gif?link=/title/tt1233599/usercomments';" href="aoldb://mail/title/tt1233599/usercomments">See more (1
total)</A> »</DIV></SPAN></SPAN></DIV></FONT></BODY></HTML>